I’d a look at the fixture list preseason and didn’t expect we’d be top of the table so early, having played only three games with 10 teams having played four, and two of those games coming against our nearest challengers from last season.
But we stepped up to the task. The earlier win at Tynecastle and beating Aberdeen 4-1 on Saturday has issued a warning to all. Bookmakers are offering Celtic’s title odds of between 2/9 and 1/7, and have created a separate ‘Betting without Celtic’ competition. One of Brendan’s jobs will be to remind players that they need to earn the points every time the whistle goes. Defeats come quickly to teams operating at 95%.
Not that we had it all our own way on Saturday. Aberdeen disrupted our rhythm and passing in the middle part of the game. You can see how Brendan has changed the way we use the ball in possession, but there’s still a bit of work to do for it to become more natural looking.
The goals were outstanding. Leigh Griffiths’ effort would be immortalised in song, if one of the Barcelona players due to visit Celtic Park soon had managed it. Tom Rogic’s technique is of particular importance.
Celtic face a lot of packed defences; having someone able to reliably hit an unstoppable shot from around 22 yards changes how a defence will shape up to play us. This is a player Leeds United thought they could buy for £1m recently.
I was pleased to see Dorus de Vries make his debut. He had little to do, and could do nothing about the Aberdeen goal, but if he’s to be relied upon in any of the important games ahead he needed an outing as a Celtic player.
It was equally important Erik Sviatchenko came through 90 minutes with Kolo Toure. The defence is set for some almighty challenges ahead, and will need to face them with little common game-time to allow partnerships to be cemented.
There’s a degree of trepidation for the Champions League task ahead, but pretenders to our domestic dominance beware: evidence mounts that this is a good Celtic team – one which will continue to improve for some time to come.
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I went to watch St Johnstone play against Rosenborg in Perth a few seasons ago.
Rosenborg had a right back playing for them who was head and shoulders above everyone else on the pitch. I remember thinking, why can Celtic scout guys like this.
Here we are a few years later and he is apparently all but signed.
If he is as good as he seemed to be that night there is no way that he will be a backup to anyone. Definite starter.
AuroraBorealis79, first apologies for the misspell of the nom de blog.
Of course Paul can’t read every post, that would be a full time job!
But he will respond if notified, I’m sure.
DOC,
just come out and say it Tony Donnelly is a clipe
HH
See that big Charlie Mulgrew is still listed as a Celtic defender. Anyone got any Celtic news on him?
And ……….. Nadir Cifti is still listed as a forward. I had forgotten about him. I wonder if Brendan has?
we need a squad to take care of heavy fixture list and injuries – need to be careful not to thin too much! Leicester got very fortunate!
And once again the trolls, paid or unpaid, have succeeded in their main objectives: railroading the conversation onto their own agenda, and dividing & conquering.
We have just had the dream start to Brendan and Celtic (dream in a typically-us way, a f*****n’ heart-in-mouth rollercoaster sometimes).
We are on the verge tonight of signing the next piece in the jigsaw, who runs like Wile E Coyote
We are top of the league with a game in hand after playing about twice to three times the number of games anybody else has
We are starting to play really, really good football
We have a management team right out the top drawer
Peter Lawwell looks like he has been relieved of all footballing duties and told to stick to what he is good at (and he is very good at it)
We have games coming up in the CL that I’d sell my dug to be able to be there for (and I love my dug)
Against all the odds, ALL the odds, we’re clean, we pay our tax and our bills, and we’re loaded. (Apart from the obvious, that’s what the huns hate the most, IMO).
And yet the blog is controlled tonight by some plant with an agenda. And his agenda won.
Surely there must be a way to filter out these people, whether they are sad-guy trolls or professional PR stooges?
Thanks Doc,
Saw your reply to Northern Lights, can’t spell Auror,,,,,,,,is.
I have long suspected that Paul has seconded someone else, possibly WC, to administer the blog.
It is certainly someone who has a lighter hand on the tiller. Pity.
Good Evening.
Here is my latest. Which exposes ‘the truth’ about the Joleon Lescott transfer saga…
https://theclumpany.wordpress.com/2016/08/29/joleon-lescott-the-strange-truth/
THOMTHETHIM @ 7:03 PM,
“Personally, I don’t want to see Celtic condemn itself to the lower leagues of English football, where we would languish and wither.”
Well, that would be my concern. How do you keep momenteum on the performance and finance front while playing Tier 5, 4 or 3 Clubs.
Leeds United have proven once you loose your way getting back is no dead cert.
However, whatevet happens we won’t languish and wither IMO.
Also, I think you may be surprised by the integrity of the English Leagues, dispite the money sloshing around they have managed to run a tight ship…
Of course it isn’t saying much but they certainly have a better record than FIFA, UEFA and the SFA.
Hail Hail
AURORABOREALIS79
Too right mate, pure shocking so it is, posters and there opinions might even get called huns?
EmeraldBee, Charlie was dropped from the first team squad listed on Official site weeks ago.
Brendan subsequently issued a Statement that he had agreed to let Charlie train with first team squad whilst he tried to find a new Club.
Must admit I’m totally amazed that Charlie hasn’t been snapped up yet, just a few days left but of course players out of contract can be signed outside the transfer window.
Awe_Naw, Lee Wallace is a what?
HT and Twists n Turns – I’ll try to get you tickets for Manchester. How many are you looking for?
AURORABOREALIS79
your handle intrigues me ?
The icy sky at night
Paddles cut the water
Mean anything to you ?
PocahontasCSC
Corkcelt- Siminovic, Boyata, Ambrose ….or Mulgrew?
DOC
LOL
HH
EMERALDBEE
Hoping to sign for Celtic was the last we heard.
“Celtic are terrible for trying to communicate with”
Charlie going into the Astana game. CSC
TD67, that was just a wee joke:-)
Couldnae resist!
When there is a big red button to be pressed I’m yer man.
Lol, the mob are all over Kill Ultra, the res 12 cabal hunt in packs relentlessly, Kill Ultra trust me they will spin everything you’ve not got a chance, how dare you question the res 12 guys, I’ve been there it’s pointless, plus the fact it’s all seceret now, can you imagine the res12 guys asking the board to the CFC board about a subject and the CFC board telling them, canny tell Yi it’s a seceret ?hahahahaha priceless. Let them get on with it, it’s a laugh.
I Used to take it serious but not now, it’s a pantomime. IMO.
Kill Ultra, C’mon, the easiest of questions.
Did you contribute to the funds for the Gaurdian and Tribune de Geneva adverts?
Or is your shift over, I hear money is tight and cutbacks are to be made!
Bada
I’ll post on here later tonight if you’re gonna be around. GL tomorrow
Cork, Bourne
Thanks for that lhads. Loved Big Chas and what he did for us, but just couldn’t see him meet Brendan’s demands on the park. I wish him all the best.
An teach solais 12.50
I am not from Donegal as you intimated , but both my late parents were and I’m very proud of my heritage.
I’m from a little village outside Crieff where Gordon 64 comes from , I stopped posting but still browse most days I am no longer a season ticket holder due to poor health reasons. I communicated with Clogher re finding some family tree issues in Donegal, and found him to be the most helpful and gracious person you could ever hope to meet. Also got a ZTP ringtone from ACGR not this time but the last time we were in group stages, also cracked with Delaney’s re my cousin in Clydebank. I recently attended Astana and Beer sheva games as guys on holiday gave me their ticket and was delighted to meet TOHG speaking to my pal as they exited the stadium. I came on tonight to tell who I am and that I love Celtic, my previous post re my friend kill ultra who I know is a Celtic man through and through and felt he was being keyboard bullied . I again state I know nothing of res.12 details, kill ultra was being denied that Canamalar had an e mail from him ( found it miraculously later that night) he then tried to insult me saying he did not know any Papajoe, I did not respond as I find his comments contradictory. I am more than happy to meet any CQN posters Winning Captains lives about 20 mins away. I reiterate I do not like bullying some of you may remember me defending Weefra when he made a spur of the moment angry comment re IS. We all want the best for Celtic but please go about it in a respectful manner. HH
Bada, I’m willing to wait & see what we have in Jozo but Charlie ahead of the other two, definitely.
Charlie is only 30 yrs of age there are 4 or 5 good years in him yet.
JOE FILIPPIS HAIRCUT on 29TH AUGUST 2016 6:44 PM
Im looking forward to saturday nights game Livingstone v. Celtic under 20s we have already put out two senior clubs but Livingstone away could be a bridge to far.However I think it will be a cracker of a game.H.H.
I agree that it may be too much for them, not for any lack of skill in the Colts players but, understandably, a lack of experience. Have really enjoyed watching the Colts play, hopefully a few will be in the first team squad this season
BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 29TH AUGUST 2016 7:18 PM
Maybe those Posters that get called huns should rethink statements they make like
“Plastic Paddy” or “Not Celtic Supporters” if they don’t wanna be deemed to have a hun mentality
People who throw stones at glass houses n all that.
Phyllis
That’s extremely kind of you. Listen P, this sounds cheeky in the extreme but there are 5 of us going, so 5 but of course that’s not possible, so anything appreciated.
If you can’t manage any Phyllis the thought is very much appreciated.
Thanks a million
Hail hail
Top of the league, CL football secured , £30 mil coming our way…….some guys need to look at the trolls who pollute the blog when we are on the up…..it’s not too difficult to work them out
Twists- thanks
Development team trailing St. Johnstone 1 nil. Goal came from penalty, minutes later Celtic got a penalty but keeper saved it.
Corkcelt -agree HH
Noticed someone was asked a yes/no question and responded with a sentence.
First manoeuvre they teach at spin school?
Anyway, thought I’d rhetorically pose some yes/no questions just to get a sense of the club’s health.
Is your club governed according to best practice established by luminaries such as an ex-deputy governor of the bank of England?
Is your chairman a lying money launderer?
Do you pay PR firms not one thin dime because fact based messages take care of themselves?
Is your largest outgoing, after player’s salaries, PR costs?
Is your manager experienced at the highest level?
Is it true that your manager has never worked top flight before this month?
Are signings executed quickly, under the radar and without prior spin?
Do signings take place over a period ranging three weeks to two months sometimes falling through for a multitude of reasons?
Are you playing Barcelona soon?
Are you playing Linfield soon?
Finally, if a banner appears on 10 September saying
Shame the nation
Liquidation
Intimidation
Rinse, repeat and learn nothing
Would you be offended?
Hail hail
Papajoe
Kill Ultra that has been doing the bullying big time, not being on the blog or lurking you were not to know that … but you know now
HH
CORKCELT on 29TH AUGUST 2016 7:19 PM
EmeraldBee, Charlie was dropped from the first team squad listed on Official site weeks ago.
Brendan subsequently issued a Statement that he had agreed to let Charlie train with first team squad whilst he tried to find a new Club.
————–
How hard must that be for Charlie, training with the squad that’s going places, his old team-mates, and knowing he’s not part of it any more.
I think it’s right that Charlie should move on, but it must be a hard hard thing to do.
Hope he gets a good move, always liked him.
Eurochamps 67 just go and support Celtic FFS
Has Warbler commented yet on Lescott preferring to go to Greece as his family are settled in Manchester ?
F***y
AWE_NAW_NO_ANNONI_OAN_ANAW_NOO on 29TH AUGUST 2016 7:21 PM
Could it not be my Christian name?
PAPAJOE 55
Glad to stand corrected. I had remembered you as a very dignified and polite poster in the past in complete contra-distinction to the way your friend comes across. We share a common heritage in Gaoth Dobhair and I got the impression that you hailed from that parish.
Frankly don’t understand what your friend is on about and don’t like any attacks/ disparaging remarks against the Res12 bhoys who have put themselves in the firing line for our sakes. I, and I am sure, that virtually the entire blog has nothing but admiration for, and total faith, in them.
I am genuinely sorry to hear that your ill health no longer permits you to attend games. I do remember some quality posts from you in the past.
HH